Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's softball team is set to face Northern Iowa in a three-game series in Cedar Falls this weekend. This will mark the first encounter between the teams since Southern Illinois defeated Northern Iowa in the previous year's Missouri Valley Conference championship.

Weather conditions have prompted a schedule shift, with the series now including a single game on Friday, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday.

Recently, the Southern Illinois Salukis swept a three-game series against Bradley. In the first game, they won 6-3 with notable performances from Anna Carder and Sage Grann. Emily Williams contributed a grand slam in the second game, which also ended in a 6-3 victory. The series concluded with a 9-3 win on Sunday, featuring strong performances from Williams and Emma Austin.

Following this sweep, Emily Williams and McKenzie Newcomb received weekly honors from the MVC. Williams was named Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week, recognized for her home runs and RBIs. McKenzie Newcomb was awarded Pitcher of the Week for her contributions over five games, maintaining a strong ERA.

Looking at the series history, Southern Illinois holds an 81-49 advantage over Northern Iowa. Last year's championship game in Normal saw Southern Illinois secure a 3-2 victory. However, Northern Iowa had previously taken two out of three in their regular season meeting. The Panthers enter this series with a record of 24-14 overall, following recent games against Drake.

Fans can stay updated on the Salukis via their social media channels and the Salukis Mobile App.